Forgotten Wallabies flyhalf Quade Cooper has today announced a move away from Queensland, signing a one-year deal with the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby.
The 119-match veteran said he was “keen to work hard” at his new club, having played for the Reds since 2006 and scoring 846 points in his time up north.
But he found himself on the outer with Reds coach Brad Thorn for most of 2018, fueling speculation the livewire playmaker would seek a new home for the 2019 season.
His 70-Test career also came to a halt, with Cooper not lining up for Australia since 2016 despite reasonable support from Australian fans to replace the embattled Bernard Foley in the same position.
He spent most of 2018 with Brisbane City in the National Rugby Championship, while the fourth fight of his on-and-off professional boxing career is set for the end of November.
“I was really impressed seeing the improvement that Melbourne have made this year. Their professionalism since the first discussion we had about me being a Rebel has been first-class,” Cooper said.
“I know that Rugby in Melbourne has a strong history and cultural connection. If I can help out the grassroots and be involved in inspiring the next generation, then that is just a bonus for me,” he added.
Rebels coach Dave Wessels said he’d been in contact with Cooper for several months, saying he was “impressed” with the 30-year-old’s passion and love for the game of rugby.
“He knows that he has some hard work ahead of him, but he has the potential to be a really important spark for us over the next few months. We’re excited to have him.”
“We’ve worked really hard on our succession planning as a coaching group and I’m proud of the program we’re building.
“We’re very clear on what we needed to add to the squad and we look forward to the new players making an impact on the field,” Wessels added.
The move will see Cooper reunite with 2011 Super Rugby championship teammate Will Genia, while the Melbourne backline will be further bolstered by the return of Matt Toomua.
The Rebels enjoyed one of their stronger seasons in 2018, rebounding from a horror one-win campaign to finish with an equal-franchise record seven wins – only narrowly missing out on finals after a close loss to the Highlanders in the last week.
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
Jacko nobody who cares for the qld reds would have been happy with the last season. You're a Thorn fan, we all get that, and we can understand that you're happy your boy is still the coach. But you can drop the faux reds supporter bit.
Jacko
Guest
Shano...spoken like a true loyal supporter eh? Run away at the first sign of a challenge...No wonder you are a QC fanboy...I support my team no matter who the coach is and no matter who is on their playing roster
Jacko
Guest
Thanks for the facts...nothing...yet again...Then the usual derogatory comment to the person you disagree with...Such valuable input.....I dont hate QC...i just dont believe he is the savour of all things rugby in Aus...If you do then great...no probs...Perhaps you should re read some of your own posts to chech out who does the hatred
Jacko
Guest
Sure Shano...What non truths ? Typical...make statements with no facts...I state facts and your reply is nothing about my comment but just a personal attack ......But I guess you cant argue with SHANO eh? i dont know why the ROAR allow you to spruke such untruths
Jacko
Guest
Brad it backs my argument up 100%. Live crowds are disappearing...thats a fact of life in almost every sport around the world and not once have I ever claimed QC drives crowds away.....I have very clearly stated the facts that prove QC is no more a crowd magnet than any other player......Also your 5000 is way out for the drop from 2017 to 2018...the figures show 2000 less than you are stating....Why is it that QC fanboys seem to lie about crowd figures all the time? What do you get from falsifying them?
Jacko
Guest
Jim...No excuses for Thorn...he's a big boy and can look out for himself because he takes responsibility for his own actions....The NZ way? Sorry Jim but the NZ way is to win....no excuses needed.... Jim do you disagree that the Reds will produce more new Wallabies in Thorns coaching stint than any other Aus SR coach will in the same period? You just seem to refuse to actually engage in any constructive comments and only ever go down the personal insult track........
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
It's a pity that Thor's insecurities crueled the reds in 2018 hope his ego is ok in 2019
piru
Roar Rookie
Well this escalated didn't it - put your pitchforks down folks. - Zado: I applaud your ability to Google image search and find my Facebook profile - you are clearly the Neo of Roar. I've never tried to hide who I am and you have not discovered something special - several here know me off the site. If you wish to become one of them I invite you to call me a liar to my face. - Scott: seeing as you're a newcomer and arrived during the period the ARU canned my team and my state was hung out to dry, you are probably right that I've been overly critical of them. But Aussie rugby in general? I don't agree.
Shano
Guest
Once i found out Thorn dogged Quade we were never going to any games this year Thorn seems forget Quade is a Queensland icon 130+ games and premiership winner in 2011 ( Ironically against Thorns beloved Crusaders) Brad Thorn means nothing to Queensland Rugby. I reckon he has made a massive error. You reckon people want to go and see that plodder Stewart at 10. He is Jake Mcintyre 2.0, and the perennial bumbling Aiden Toua has been signed, well done Thorn.
Shano
Guest
You didn't watch any, as he was awarded the player of the tournament. Get back in your hole now.
Shano
Guest
You cant reason with Jacko. Forget it. I don`t know why the ROAR lets him spruik such non truths all the time.
JH
Guest
What`s he achieved as a coach. Don't say he won an NRC title as Stiles won two. He has won nothing. In fact he has probably has achieved something .Losing the crowd. ( Reds fans )
JH
Guest
Who are the other top 3 flyhalves in the country and why is only one in the Wallabies then
Brad
Guest
The Reds crowd figures were down 5000 per game in 2018 than 2017.So that blows you argument way out of the water doesn't it.
Jim
Guest
So you are already making up excuses for Brad Thorn already ? That`s the New Zealand way isn't it.
Danny
Roar Rookie
Agree Gloria, I know a number who made sure they went to Souths games this season to see Quade play. I will also add I was at my own club ( not a premier club) and we had Souths at home, and there was Quade supporting his club's lower grade teams, and it actually something I have seen in other years. I not a Quade fan, but to say he didn't attract people to rugby is just stupid, and to see the number of people approaching him after games was great , in the 3 club games I saw him play,I know he never left the field to get to sheds for at least 20-30 minutes after rest of team. there can be no argument about him being very good for club rugby in Brisbane this year, or about his apparent enjoyment of mixing with fans etc!
Gloria
Roar Rookie
I was there at three of these games so I think I and these rugby journalists and the club administrators they talked to are a more reliable source than the dedicated Quade hater. Souths hadf their most profitable year ever on the back of Quade. Dgo you claim the earth is flat in between the put downs?
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
Price isn't an issue, unless they dramatically improve on next year I'll only be heading to Suncorp if insomnia is an issue.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Yeah sports journalists, you know the kind that report on sports for a living. They obviously have no expertise on the subject of sport and can't be trusted. Jeebus almighty Donald Trump are you posting now as "Jacko"
Jacko
Guest
ZAD..O....JACK..O...FRED..O.....whats the difference eh? Mind you your cleverness is astounding...how did you come up with the fact that my name is not Jacko? just a small hint tho...my name is in there somewhere and Jacko has been my nickname for around 54 years now....and I am 55.......But feel free to call me what you like.....As for casting aspersions and calling people liars wel.......read your own posts as we are only replying to your nom-de plume and aspersion casting...but as we know...some Zad'os love to dish it out but cant take it...